Digester cap assembly with sliding cap



May 5, 1964 J. N. COATS DIGESTER CAP ASSEMBLY WITH SLIDING CAP 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1961 JOHN N. COATS.

INVENTOR.

BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM 8 BLORE ATTORNEYS May 5, 1964 J. N. COATS DIGESTERCAP ASSEMBLY WITH SLIDING CAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 27, 1961 JOHNN. COATS.

INVENTOR.

BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM 8 BLORE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,131,925DIGESTER CAP ASSEMBLY WIIi-I SLIDENG CAP John N. Coats, 2910 SW. WemhlyPark Drive, Lake Gswego, Greg. Filed Nov. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 155,1)99 19Claims. (Cl. 268-50) This invention relates to a digester cap assembly.

Prior digester cap assemblies have been defective in several respects.The multiple swing bolt type is not only expensive but requiresconsiderable time to open and close. The type having a simple latch toclamp a hinged cap closed has not proved satisfactory in high pressureinstallations because the clamping pressure is applied only at one, orat most, two places. Hence leakage sometimes occurs.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a digester capassembly overcoming the above objections, and particularly to provide adigester cap assembly in which an effective clamping force isdistributed over the cap.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a cap assembly inwhich a .cap is slidable back and forth from its closed position, and inwhich there is a mechanism for forcing the cap against its seat in theclosed position of the cap.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement as justdescribed having a novel relationship of the mechanism and the mountingarrangement for the cap.

Various other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of an assembly embodying the concepts of thepresent invention, parts being broken away for convenience inillustration;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the end of the assembly adjacent the arrows 33 ofFIG. 1, parts being broken away for convenience in illustration; and

P16. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation view showing part of the leversystem of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the numeral 11 indicates diagrammatically aconventional digester vessel having a flange 13 defining a mouth throughwhich material is dumped into the vessel. This flange is most frequentlyformed with peripheral slots to receive swing bolts of a cap. In thepresent construction, the slots receive bolts (not shown) which secure alower flange 17 of an adapter, generally entitled 19, to the flange 13in register therewith. The adapter includes a riser or tubular member 21having the flange 17 at its lower end and having at its upper end anupper flange 23 machined to form a seat 25 for a circular cap 33. Thecap may also be considered as a cover or closure member.

The cap 33 is connected to a linkage system L (FIG. 1)

nected at 51 to a lug 53 which is fixedly secured to, or formedintegrally with, the cap 33 near an edge of the cap.

When the actuator 47 is energized one Way, the cap 33 will be pulled outof register with the digester vessel, and when energized the oppositeway, the cap will be moved back to a position in register with thedigester vessel.

The relationship of the various parts of the linkage system L is bestshown diagrammatically in FIG. 4, but reference to the other figureswill be made to illustrate the actual, as contrasted to diagrammatic,form of the parts. Referring to FIG. 1, the cap 33 has an eye 61pivotally receiving a fulcrum shaft 63 the ends of which extend throughand are pinned to a pair of spaced inner levers 65 at placesintermediate the ends of the inner levers. The ends of the levers 65most remote from the fulcrum shaft 63 are fixedly joined by a base platees to which the cylinder of a piston and cylinder type actuator 67 issecured. The actuator has a piston rod 69 (FIG. 3) pivotally connectedat 71 to a lug 73 on the cap 33. A safety stop bolt 7 0 (FIG. 3)threadedly extends through the plate 66 to limit the movement of theactuator toward the cap. The opposite ends of the levers 65 havehorizontally oversize slots 74 (FIGS. 1 and 4) receiving a pivot shaft75 which extends through and is pinned to the adjacent ends of a pair ofintermediate levers 77 straddling the inner levers 65. The other ends ofthe levers 77 embrace a slide 79 and receive the ends of a fulcrum shaft31 (FIG. 3) which projects through the slide and levers and is pinned tothe latter. Wear strips 82 (FIG. 3) are preferably secured to the innerhorizontal faces of the channel members 35 in positions next to theupper and lower inner faces of the slide 79.

A pivot shaft 83 (FIG. 1) extends through and is pinned to the levers 77at a place between the actuator 67 and the shaft 81. The ends of theshaft 83 are pivotally received by a pair of standards 85 which arefixedly secured to or integrally formed with the cap 33.

Inwardly of the shaft 83, that is inwardly toward the axis of the cap,there is a pair of pivot shafts 91 pinned to the levers 77 and receivedby horizontally oversize slots 92 formed in one set of ends of a pair ofouter levers 93 which straddle the intermediate levers 77. The oppositeends of the levers 93 receive and are pinned to a fulcrum shaft 95 whichis pivotally received by a second slide, also numbered 79, disposed inthe associated guide 35. Just inwardly of the fulcrum shaft 95 is apivot shaft 97 which extends through and is pinned to the levers 93 andis pivotally received by a pair of standards 99 disposed in flankingrelation to the levers 93 and fixedly secured or integrally formed withthe cap 33.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a pair of stop bolts 161,

V threadedly pass through the end pieces 41 and act as adjustable stopsto ensure register of the cap 33 when it is returned from itsinoperative position to its operative position. Jam nuts 193 on thebolts hold them in desired positions of adjustment.

which is to be described in detail presently and which is I additionhave depending portions 37 secured to bracketarms 38 which fit betweenand are secured to the flanges 17 and 23. End pieces 41 (FIG. 3) closeone set of ends of the channel members 35 and will be mentioned furtherhereinafter.

The outboard ends of the channel members 35 are connected by across-piece 45 (FIG. 1) which pivotally supports a double actinghydraulic piston and cylinder actuator 47. The actuator has a piston rod49 pivotally con- Flexible conduits (not shown) are provided to allowthe cap and its actuator to move back and forth relative to a stationarycontrol valve (not shown). Referring to FIG. 4, after the cap isreturned to its operative position over the flmge 23, the actuator 67 isenergized in a manner to extend the same. Extension of the actuator 67tends to lower the left hand ends of the inner levers as the parts areshown in FIG. 4, the fulcrum shaft 63 under this condition acts as thefulcrum of a first class lever system. Lowering of the left hand end ofthe levers 65 tends to lower the left hand ends of the intermediatelever 77. Since the fulcrum shaft 81 is bodily stationary, this meansthat a downward force is exerted by means of the pivot shaft 83 on thestandards and a downward force is exerted on the right hand ends of thelevers 93 through =3 the medium of the pivot shafts 91. A downward forceexerted on the right hand ends of the levers 93 will exert a downwardforce on the standards 99 through the medium of the pivot shaft 97, withthe levers 93 acting and the levers 77 acting as secondclasslevers.There is thus created downward forces on the standards 99, the standards85, and the hydraulic actuator 67, and because of the resistance ofupward movement of the left hand ends of the lever 77, downward pressureis created on the eye 61. 'With the specific spacing of the standards onthe cap shown, there are provided seven spaced points of downhand endsof the outer levers 93 create an upward force on the standards 99. Thetotal result is that the cap is.

lifted sufiicien-tly to allow it to be slid or moved to an inoperativeposition.

The particular seal to be employed between the cap 33 and the flange 23has not been as yet described, and as a matter of fact, it could be ofany particular form. For

instance, it could be an O ring recessed in the surface of the cap, oreven an O ring recessed in the upper surface of the flange 23. Or, itcould be a gasket strip carried by either flange or cap or merelydisposed between the two. in any' event, when reference in the claims ismade to the cap seating on its seat, the seat is to be considered as thefixed structure against which the cap is pressed; If a gasket happens tobe secured against the upper surface of the flange, the seat would bethe flange andits gasket. If the flange does not have a gasket, thesurface of the flange is considered as the seat. flange has one or morerings, the flange surface and If the the 0 rings are considered as aseat. 7

While, it has not been mentioned that there are wear strips tor theother slide 79., the associated guide does have wear strips.

Having described the invention in what is considered to be the preferredembodiment thereof, it is desired that it be understood that theinvention is not to be limited other than by the provisions of thefollowing claims.

I claim: 7

'1. A closure assembly for the mouth of a pressure vessel, comprisingpair of parallel spaced straight guides located one on either side ofsaid mouthwith the axis of said mouth being located within thelongitudinal confines of saideguides and perpendicular to the plane ofsaid guides,

a pair of slides, 'one for each of said guides and slid.-

able along said guides, a cover tor said seat,

means mounting said cover on said slides with the axis, of said coverparallel to the axis of said vessel mouth,

said mounting means supporting said cover for movement a directionparallel to its axis to effect seating of said cover on said month, saidmounting means including a pair of levers, one

for each slide, each lever being connected to its slide for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said guides,

said levers also being pivotally connected to said cover,

and means interconnecting said levers to efiect movement of said leversrelativeto one another to cause seating and unseating of saidcover. 2,.A closure assembly for the mouth of a pressure vessel, comprising I apair of parallel spaced straight guides located one of said guides andperpendicular to the plane of said guides,

a pair of slides, one for each of said guides and slidable along saidguides,

a'cover for said seat,

means mounting said cover on said slides with the axis of said coverparallel to the axis of said vessel mouth,

said mounting means supporting said cover for movement in a directionparallel to its axis to efiect seating of said cover on said mouth,

said mounting means including a pair of levers, one

for each slide,

each lever being connected at one end to its slide for pivotal movementabout an axis parallel to said guides, V

said levers also being pivotally connected at places intermediate theends thereof to said cover,

and means interconnecting the remaining ends of said levers and saidcover to efiect movement of said levers relative to one another to causeseating and unseating of said cover. 3. A pressure vessel closureassembly for a seat of a pressure vessel, comprising a closure memberfor seating on said seat,

closure member moving meansfor moving said closure member toward andaway from said seat, said means comprising a pair of levers pivotallymounted at certain ends there prising,

guide means including a pair of parallel spaced straight guides locatedone on either side of said mouth with the axis of said mouth beinglocated within the longitudinal confines of said guides andperpendicular to the plane of said guides,

a pair of slides, one for each of said guides'and slidable along saidguides, 1

a closure member for said seat,

means mounting said closure member on said slides with the axis of saidclosure member parallel to the,

axis of said vessel month,

said mounting means supporting said closure member for movement in adirection parallel to its axis to effect seating of said closure memberon said mouth,

said mounting means including a first pair of spaced parallel leverspivotally connected at one set of ends to one slide and a second pair ofspaced parallel levers pliitotally connected at one set of ends to saidother s e,

said second pair of levers being disposed between the levers of saidfirst pair,

all the above named levers extending at right angles .to said guidemeans,

saidclosure member having a first pair of spaced fixed elements directlypivotally connected to said first levers at places intermediate thelength of said first levers, e e 7 said closure member having a secondpair of spaced fixed elements directly pivotally connected to. saidsecond leversfat places intermediate the length of said second levers, 7

means pivotally connecting the free ends of one pair of levers to theother pair of levers at a place which is intermediate the length of thelatter and which is spaced from the fixed elements associated with suchother pair of levers, 7

land actuating means connecting the free ends of said other pair oflevers to said closure member tfor effecting movement of the just namedfree ends toward said closure member to effect bodily movement of saidclosure member one way, and for etfecting movement of said just namedfree ends away from said closure member to effect bodily movement ofsaid closure member the opposite way.

5. A closure assembly for a mouth to be closed comguide means includinga pair of parallel spaced straight guides located one on either side ofsaid mouth with the axis of said mouth being located within thelongitudinal confines of said guides and perpendicular to the plane ofsaid guides,

a pair of slides, one for each of said guides and slidable along saidguides,

a closure member for said seat,

means mounting said closure member on said slides with the axis of saidclosure member parallel to the axis of said vessel mouth,

saidmountmg means supporting said closure member for movement in adirection parallel to its axis to effect seating of said closure memberon said mouth,

said mounting means including a first pair of spaced parallel leverspivotally connected at one set of ends to one slide and a second pair ofspaced parallel levers pivotally connected at one set of ends to saidother slide,

said second pair of levers being disposed between the levers of saidfirst pair,

all the above named levers extending at right angles to said guidemeans,

said closure member having a first pair of spaced fixed elementsdirectly pivotally connected to said first levers at places intermediatethe length of said first levers,

said closure member having a second pair of spaced fixed elementsdirectly pivotally connected to said second levers at placesintermediate the length of said second levers,

means pivotally connecting the free ends of one pair of levers to' theother pair of levers at a place which is intermediate the length of thelatter and which is spaced from the fixed elements associated with suchother pair of levers,

and actuating means connecting the free ends of said other pair oflevers to said closure member for effecting movement of the just namedfree ends toward said closure member to effect bodily movement of saidclosure member one way, and for eilecting movement of said just namedfree ends away from said closure member to eiiect bodily movement ofsaid closure member the opposite way,

said actuating means comprising a third pair of levers disposed betweenthe levers of said second pair,

said third levers being pivotally mounted intermediate the end thereofon said closure member,

one set of ends of said third levers being connected to the free ends ofsaid other pair of levers,

and operating means interconnecting the remaining ends of said thirdlevers to said closure member to effect movement of such remaining endstoward and away from said closure member and thereby effect bodilymovement in opposite Ways of said closure member.

6. A closure structure for an opening comprising,

a closure member,

guide means for guiding said closure member to and from a position inregister with said opening,

said guide means including a pair of spaced slides,

mounting means mounting said closure member on said slides for movementrelative thereto,

said mounting means including a first pair of spaced parallel leverspivotally connected at one set of ends to one slide and a second pair ofspaced parallel levers pivotally connected at one set of ends to saidother slide,

said second pair of levers being disposed between the levers of saidfirst pair,

all the above named levers extending at right angles to said guidemeans,

said closure member having a first pair of spaced fixed elementsdirectly pivotally connected to said first levers at places intermediatethe length of said first levers,

said closure member having a second pair of spaced fixed elementsdirectly pivotally connected to said second levers at placesintermediate the length of said second levers,

means pivotally connecting the free ends of one pair of levers to theother pair of levers at a place which is intermediate the length of thelatter and which is spaced from the fixed elements associated with suchother pair of levers,

and actuating means connecting the free ends of said other pair oflevers to said closure member for effecting movement of the just namedfree ends toward said closure member to efiect bodily movement of saidclosure member one way, and for effecting movement of said just namedfree ends away from said closure member to efiect bodily movement ofsaid closure member the opposite way.

7. A closure structure for an opening comprising,

a closure member,

guide means for guiding said closure member to and from a position inregister with said opening,

said guide means including a pair of spaced slides,

mounting means mounting said closure member on said slides for movementrelative thereto,

said mounting means including a first pair of spaced parallel leverspivotally connected at one set of ends to one slide and a second pair ofspaced parallel levers pivotally connected at one set of ends to saidother slide,

said second pair of levers being disposed between the levers of saidfirst pair,

all the above named levers extending at right angles to said guidemeans,

said closure member having a first pair of spaced fixed elementsdirectly pivotally connected to said first levers at places intermediatethe length of said first levers,

said closure member having a second pair of spaced fixed elementsdirectly pivotally connected to said second levers at placesintermediate the length of said second levers,

means pivotally connecting the free ends of one pm'r of levers to theother pair of levers at a place which is intermediate the length of thelatter and which is spaced from the fixed elements associated with suchother pair of levers,

and actuating means connecting the free ends of said other pair oflevers to said closure member for elfecting movement of the just namedfree ends toward said closure member to effect bodily movement of saidclosure member one way, and for effecting movement of said just namedfree ends away from said closure member to effect bodily movement ofsaid closure member the opposite Way,

said actuating means comprising a third pair of levers disposed betweenthe levers of said second pair,

said third levers being pivotally mounted intermediate the end thereofon said closure member,

one set of ends of said third levers being connected to the free ends ofsaid other pair of levers,

and operating means interconnecting the remaining ends of said thirdlevers to said closure member to levers pivotally mounted at one set ofends and a? second pair of levers pivotally mounted at one set of endsat a place spaced from the place of-mounting of said first levers,

said second levers being disposed between said first levers,

said closure member having a first pair of spaced fixed elementsdirectly pivotally connected to said first V levers at placesintermediate'the length of said first levers,

said closure member having a second pair of spaced fixed elementsdirectly pivotally connected to said second levers at placesintermediate the length of said second levers,

means pivotally connecting the free ends of one pair of levers to'theother pair of levers at a place which is intermediate the length of thelatter and which is spaced from the fixed elements associated with suchother pair of levers,

and actuating means connecting the free ends of said other pair oflevers to said closure member for effecting movement of the just namedfree ends toward said closure member to efiect bodily movement of saidclosure member one way, and for efiecting movement of said just namedfree ends away from said closure member to effect bodily movement ofsaid closure member the opposite way.

9. A closure structure for an opening comprising,

a closure member,

means for moving said closure member toward and away from said opening,7

said means including a firstpair of spaced parallel levers pivotallymounted at one set of ends anda second pair of levers pivotally mountedat one set of ends at a place spaced from the place of mounting of saidfirst levers,

said second levers being disposed between said first levers,

said closure member having a first pair of spaced fixed elementsdirectly pivotally connected to said first levers at places intermediatethe length of said first levers, v 7

said closure member having a second pair of spaced fixed elementsdirectly pivotallyconnected to said second levers at places intermediatethe length of said second levers,

a means pivotally connecting the free ends of one pair V of levers tothe other pair of levers at a place which is intermediate the length ofthe latter and which is spaced from the fixed elements associated withsuch other pair of levers,

and actuating means connecting the free ends of said other pair oflevers to said closure member for effecting movement of the just namedfree endstoward said closure member to effect bodily movement of saidclosure member one way, and for effecting movement of said just namedfree ends away from said closure member to eliect bodily movement ofsaid closure member the. opposite way,

said actuating means comprising,

a third pair of levers disposed between the levers of said second pair,

said third levers being pivotally mounted intermediate the end thereofon said closure member, 7

one set ofends of said third levers being connected to the free ends ofsaid other pair of levers,

and operating means interconnecting the. remaining ends of said thirdlevers to said closure member to eifect movement of such remaining endstoward and away from said closure member and thereby effect bodilymovement in opposite ways of said closure member. V a

10. A closure, structure for an opening comprising,

a closure member,

guide means for guiding said closure member to and from a position inregister with said opening,

7 said guide means including a pair of spaced slides,

mounting means mounting said closure member on said References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 714,296 Giesler Nov. 25,1902 2,166,999 Needham et al. July 25, 1939 2,227,712 Hackley Jan. 7,1941 2,285,935 Meyer June 9, 1942 2,546,760 LeClaire Mar. 27, 19512,556,578 Dohm June 12, 1951 2,841,308 Weicker July 1, 1958 2,923,430Stengele Feb. 2, 1960

1. A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR THE MOUTH OF A PRESSURE VESSEL, COMPRISING APAIR OF PARALLEL SPACED STRAIGHT GUIDES LOCATED ONE ON EITHER SIDE OFSAID MOUTH WITH THE AXIS OF SAID MOUTH BEING LOCATED WITHIN THELONGITUDINAL CONFINES OF SAID GUIDES AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OFSAID GUIDES, A PAIR OF SLIDES, ONE FOR EACH OF SAID GUIDES AND SLIDABLEALONG SAID GUIDES, A COVER FOR SAID SEAT, MEANS MOUNTING SAID COVER ONSAID SLIDES WITH THE AXIS OF SAID COVER PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAIDVESSEL MOUTH, SAID MOUNTING MEANS SUPPORTING SAID COVER FOR MOVEMENT INA DIRECTION PARALLEL TO ITS AXIS TO EFFECT SEATING OF SAID COVER ON SAIDMOUTH, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF LEVERS, ONE FOR EACHSLIDE, EACH LEVER BEING CONNECTED TO ITS SLIDE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENTABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID GUIDES, SAID LEVERS ALSO BEING PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TO SAID COVER, AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID LEVERS TO EFFECTMOVEMENT OF SAID LEVERS RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER TO CAUSE SEATING ANDUNSEATING OF SAID COVER.